THE STATE IRELAND.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 644, 5 March 1870, Page 4

THE STATE IRELAND.

There has been some talk of the Government suspending the Habeas Corpus Act iv Ireland. The paper-3 generally have urged the necessity n'f steps being taken without delay, for the purpose of cheeking the disorder that exists in that unhappy country, and it was thought tha* Government would be driven "to suspend the Act. The Daily News (supposed to have succeeded to the "inspiration the late Morning Star possessed, in matters with which Mr Bright is concerned), maintains "the supremacy of the law in Ii eland, without asking Parliament for any extraordinary powers." Whether this be. true or not, it is certain that excitement in Ireland was much cooled by the apprehension that Government were about to take extreme measures. The " national" journals suddenly adopted a much more moderate tone, and restrained their exuberant expressions of disloyalty. The election of RiOS3a was made the theme of much congratulation by some of the Irish journals j but, upon the whole, feeling has cooled down with respect to it : and the probability of fresh elections of convict members is much less than it appeared to be some time ago, A large force J3 now collected on the island, and in consequence of secret reports of threatened insurrection which hayo reached the Government, flying columns have been organised by the Commandei-n-Chief, so that the seat of disorder may be reached with the least possible delay. The Apprentice Boys of Derry determined to meet on 18th December, to commemorate the clusin^ of the gates against James 11. ; and it was feared that, notwithstanding the preparations which were made to quell disturbance, a collision between the opposing factions of Protestants and Catholics would be sure to take place. Fortunately no disturbance occurred, owing partly to an opportune shower of rain ; but it seems a pity the Government did not put a stop to the procession altogether, A Liberal Government, especially one of which Mr Bright is a member, may naturally be supposed to shrink from U3ing coercive measures towards Irolaud. The situation there is fast beooming critical, .however, and if the authorities should after all find themselves left with no alternative but to lire upon the mob in order to. put down red-handed disorder, probably the most peace-loving and constitutional member of the Cabinet will then regret that some special precautions had not been adopted. Aipurian outrages also continue, One in King's County was riiarked by circumstances of unusual atrocity, an unfortunate man, whose : house was attacked, having been dragged outside his own hall-door, where the savages cut off his nose. It ia satisfactory^ to learn that, through the coilrage of'a neighbor, one of the murderous ruffians was made prisoner. The. return of O'Donovan Rossa for Tipperary has not been appealed against, an 1 consequently the House of Commons will have to determine the question as to the validity of his election. The CDonohue has written a very temperate letter on the present; condition of Ireland. Ho starts with the] assertion that the House of Commons' is now free from territorial prejudices, and is neither anti-Scotch nor anti-Irish. . This, therefore, i 3 the time for the Irish people to co-operate with the Liberal party for a redress of real grievances by constitutional means. The ! O'Donohue cannotj therefore, conceal his regret that, "As if to illustrate the perversity of human nature, this is ihe precise time which some, men have selected to counsel 1 the Irish people to abandon constitutional action, and practically to become a nation of conspirators. We are to exhume qlclwrongs, to inhale afresh the spirit of revenge, and steel our hearts against the advance of friendship. We are to forswear all good that has not been baptised in blood ; we are to retire into the recesses of o|ur hearts, and there resolve to do something or other at some indefinite period,; Til then the sun of progress must stand still." The so-caljed national papers takefstrong exception to the, letter, and .denounce its writer, -